Laxmi Vilas Palace

Laxmi Vilas Palace is the official residence of the Gaekwad royal family of Baroda and the largest private dwelling constructed in India. Built between 1878 and 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III at a cost of £180,000, the Indo-Saracenic palace was designed by Major Charles Mant and expanded by Robert Chisholm. Its 700-acre grounds include Mughal gardens, a golf course and a cricket pitch. The Durbar Hall, with Belgian stained glass windows, Belgian marble floors, Venetian mosaic ceilings and a collection of armour and bronzes, is the centrepiece of the visitor tour. The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum within the compound adds another layer to the experience.